Search age:

Search in:

Boxer Lewis slams headgear rule

Ian McCullough

Angry Australian welterweight Daniel Lewis has slammed the no-headgear rule, claiming it cost him a medal when he was deemed unfit to fight his Commonwealth Games quarter-final.

The 21-year-old from Sydney appeared a strong medal chance but he was ruled out on Wednesday because a nasty cut over his right eye had failed to heal sufficiently.

He blamed the Amateur International Boxing Association's controversial decision last year to do away with headguards in competition.

"For all these people debating about headgear for amateurs, bring the headgear back 100 per cent," said Lewis on Twitter.

Advertisement

"When you have to fight five times in a week this shit ruin's people's dreams.

"Got up at 6am this morning to lose weight.

"I made it and was ready to go to war only to be told by the doctor my journey is over.

"They won't let me fight with the cut. I had two fights, two comfortable wins with one TKO and a stupid elbow ruins it all.

"My mum and dad paid to fly to the other side of the world to watch me win gold.

"The past 10 weeks I've been away from everyone putting in the hard work, all for an elbow to ruin my dream."

Lewis had been due to fight India's Mandeep Jangra on Wednesday night when a win would have guaranteed him a medal.

But he was denied by the cut caused by an elbow in his second round win over Kehinde Ademuyiwa.

Shelley Watts was the standout fighter on a disappointing day for the Australian boxing team, powering into the women's lightweight quarter-finals by stopping Isabelle Ratna of Mauritius in the second round.

"I'm going to bring the gold medal back for every single one of you in Australia and I'm bringing it back for me, too," Watts declared before the ringside camera.

Watts is one of three Australian fighters now guaranteed a medal, which is a significant improvement on Delhi four years ago when the team finished empty-handed.

"There was a lot of talk about Boxing Australia's performance in Delhi and the whole team set a goal for themselves," she said.

"We wanted to bring some medals home for Australia because Australians have been so supportive of us."

Heavyweight hope Jai Opetaia's hopes of a first Australian Commonwealth Games heavyweight gold since 2006 ended with a points defeat to rugged Nigerian Efetobor Apochi.

Australian coach Don Abnett was at a loss to explain what happened to his fighter.

"He trained really well and has spent 10 weeks preparing for these Games," Abnett said.

"The other guy was a very physically strong opponent and I think that took a lot out of him towards the end of the fight."

Australia's Kristy Harris lost her women's flyweight fight.

Kaye Scott is also out after losing to Lauren Price of Wales in the women's middleweight division.